iridium - Irp

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iridium (�rĭdĭŭm), n. [NL., fr. L. iris, iridis, the rainbow. So called from the iridescence of some of its solutions. See .] (Chem.) A rare metallic element of atomic number 77, of the same group as platinum, which it much resembles, being silver-white and indifferent to most corrosive agents, but harder, more brittle, and with a higher melting temperature (2410° C, versus platinum 1772° C). With the exception of osmium, it is the heaviest substance known, its specific gravity being 22.4. Symbol Ir. Atomic weight 192.22.
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☞ Iridium usually occurs as a native alloy with osmium (iridosmine or osmiridium), which may occur alone or with platinum. Iridium, as an alloy with platinum, is used in bushing the vents of heavy ordnance. It is also used for the points of gold pens, and in a finely powdered condition (iridium black), for painting porcelain black.
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Iridize (?), v. t. [imp. & p. p. Iridized (?); p. pr. & vb. n. Iridizing (?).]
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1. To point or tip with iridium, as a gold pen.
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2. To make iridescent; as, to iridize glass.
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Iridoline (?), n. [Iridescent + L. oleum oil.] (Chem.) A nitrogenous base C10H9N, extracted from coal-tar naphtha, as an oily liquid. It is a member of the quinoline series, and is probably identical with lepidine.

{ Iridosmine (?), Iridosmium (?), } n. [Iridium + osmium.] (Min.) The native compound of iridium and osmium. It is found in flattened metallic grains of extreme hardness, and is often used for pointing gold pens.
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Iris (?), n.; pl. E. Irises (#), L. Irides (#). [L. iris, iridis, the goddess, Gr. �, �, the rainbow, iris of the eye, the plant Iris. Cf. .] 1. (Class. Myth.) The goddess of the rainbow, and swift-footed messenger of the gods. Shak.
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2. The rainbow. Sir T. Browne.
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3. An appearance resembling the rainbow; a prismatic play of colors. Tennyson.
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4. (Anat.) The contractile membrane perforated by the pupil, and forming the colored portion of the eye. See .
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5. (Bot.) A genus of plants having showy flowers and bulbous or tuberous roots, of which the flower-de-luce (fleur-de-lis), orris, and other species of flag are examples. See Illust. of .
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6. (Her.) See , 2.
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7. (Zoöl.) the inner circle of an oscillated color spot.
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8. same as .
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Irisated (?), a. [See .] Exhibiting the prismatic colors; irised; iridescent. W. Phillips.
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Iriscope (?), n. [Iris + -scope.] A philosophical toy for exhibiting the prismatic tints by means of thin films.
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Iris diaphragm. An adjustable diaphragm, reminiscent of the iris of the eye in its action, by which the diameter of an approximately circular opening may be controlled, as for regulating the aperture of a lens; it consists of a number of movable thin curved plates fastened at regular intervals around the inside of a ring, the positions of which are simultaneously adjusted by a single knob on the outside of the lens. It is used in cameras and microscopes.
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Irised (?), a. [See .] Having colors like those of the rainbow; iridescent. Holmes.
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Irish (?), a. [AS. īrisc, fr. īras the Irish. Cf. , .] Of or pertaining to Ireland or to its inhabitants; produced in Ireland.
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Coloq. Irish elk . (Zoöl.) See under . -- Coloq. Irish moss . (a) (Bot.) Carrageen. (b) A preparation of the same made into a blanc mange. -- Coloq. Irish poplin . See . -- Coloq. Irish potato , the ordinary white potato, so called because it is a favorite article of food in Ireland. -- Coloq. Irish reef , or Coloq. Irishman's reef (Naut.), the head of a sail tied up. -- Coloq. Irish stew , meat, potatoes, and onions, cut in small pieces and stewed.
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Irish, n. sing. & pl. 1. pl. The natives or inhabitants of Ireland, esp. the Celtic natives or their descendants.
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2. The language of the Irish; also called Irish Gaelic or the Hiberno-Celtic.
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3. An old game resembling backgammon.
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Coloq. get one's Irish up to become angry.
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Irish American, Irish-American. A native of Ireland who has become an American citizen; also, a child or descendant of such a person.
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Irishism (?), n. A mode of speaking peculiar to the Irish; an Hibernicism.
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Irishman (?), n.; pl. Irishmen (�). A man born in Ireland or of the Irish race; an Hibernian.
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Coloq. Irishman's hurricane (Naut.), a dead calm. -- Coloq. Irishman's reef . (Naut.) See Irish reef, under , a.
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Irishry (?), n. The Celtic people of Ireland. “The whole Irishry of rebels.” Milton.
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Iritis (?), n. [NL. See , and .] (Med.) An inflammation of the iris of the eye.
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Irk (ẽrk), v. t. [OE. irken to tire, become tired; cf. Sw. yrka to urge, enforce, press, or G. ekel disgust, MHG. erklich disgusting; perh. akin to L. urgere to urge, E. urge.] To weary; to give pain; to annoy.
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To see this sight, it irks my very soul. Shak.
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It irketh him to be here. M. Arnold.
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Irksome (?), a. 1. Wearisome; tedious; disagreeable or troublesome by reason of long continuance or repetition; as, irksome hours; irksome tasks.
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For not to irksome toil, but to delight,
He made us. Milton.
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2. Weary; vexed; uneasy. [Obs.]
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Let us therefore learn not to be irksome when God layeth his cross upon us. Latimer.

Syn. -- Wearisome; tedious; tiresome; vexatious; burdensome. -- , , . These epithets describe things which give pain or disgust. Irksome is applied to something which disgusts by its nature or quality; as, an irksome task. Wearisome denotes that which wearies or wears us out by severe labor; as, wearisome employment. Tedious is applied to something which tires us out by the length of time occupied in its performance; as, a tedious speech.
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Wearisome nights are appointed to me. Job vii. 3.
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Pity only on fresh objects stays,
But with the tedious sight of woes decays. Dryden.

-- Irksomely, adv. -- Irksomeness, n.
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Iron (īŭrn), n. [OE. iren, AS. īren, īsen, īsern; akin to D. ijzer, OS. īsarn, OHG. īsarn, īsan, G. eisen, Icel. īsarn, jārn, Sw. & Dan. jern, and perh. to E. ice; cf. Ir. iarann, W. haiarn, Armor. houarn.]
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1. (Chem.) The most common and most useful metallic element, being of almost universal occurrence, usually in the form of an oxide (as hematite, magnetite, etc.), or a hydrous oxide (as limonite, turgite, etc.). It is reduced on an enormous scale in three principal forms; viz., cast iron, steel, and wrought iron. Iron usually appears dark brown, from oxidation or impurity, but when pure, or on a fresh surface, is a gray or white metal. It is easily oxidized (rusted) by moisture, and is attacked by many corrosive agents. Symbol Fe (Latin Ferrum). Atomic number 26, atomic weight 55.847. Specific gravity, pure iron, 7.86; cast iron, 7.1. In magnetic properties, it is superior to all other substances.
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☞ The value of iron is largely due to the facility with which it can be worked. Thus, when heated it is malleable and ductile, and can be easily welded and forged at a high temperature. As cast iron, it is easily fusible; as steel, is very tough, and (when tempered) very hard and elastic. Chemically, iron is grouped with cobalt and nickel. Steel is a variety of iron containing more carbon than wrought iron, but less that cast iron. It is made either from wrought iron, by roasting in a packing of carbon (cementation) or from cast iron, by burning off the impurities in a Bessemer converter (then called Bessemer steel), or directly from the iron ore (as in the Siemens rotatory and generating furnace).
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2. An instrument or utensil made of iron; -- chiefly in composition; as, a flatiron, a smoothing iron, etc.
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My young soldier, put up your iron. Shak.
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3. pl. Fetters; chains; handcuffs; manacles.
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Four of the sufferers were left to rot in irons. Macaulay.
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4. Strength; power; firmness; inflexibility; as, to rule with a rod of iron.
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5. (Golf) An iron-headed club with a deep face, chiefly used in making approaches, lifting a ball over hazards, etc.
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Coloq. Bar iron . See Wrought iron (below). -- Coloq. Bog iron , bog ore; limonite. See Bog ore, under . -- Coloq. Cast iron (Metal.), an impure variety of iron, containing from three to six percent of carbon, part of which is united with a part of the iron, as a carbide, and the rest is uncombined, as graphite. It there is little free carbon, the product is white iron; if much of the carbon has separated as graphite, it is called gray iron. See also , in the Vocabulary. -- Coloq. Fire irons . See under , n. -- Coloq. Gray irons . See under , n. -- Coloq. Gray iron . See Cast iron (above). -- Coloq. It irons (Naut.), said of a sailing vessel, when, in tacking, she comes up head to the wind and will not fill away on either tack. -- Coloq. Magnetic iron . See . -- Coloq. Malleable iron (Metal.), iron sufficiently pure or soft to be capable of extension under the hammer; also, specif., a kind of iron produced by removing a portion of the carbon or other impurities from cast iron, rendering it less brittle, and to some extent malleable. -- Coloq. Meteoric iron (Chem.), iron forming a large, and often the chief, ingredient of meteorites. It invariably contains a small amount of nickel and cobalt. Cf. . -- Coloq. Pig iron , the form in which cast iron is made at the blast furnace, being run into molds, called pigs. -- Coloq. Reduced iron . See under . -- Coloq. Specular iron . See . -- Coloq. Too many irons in the fire , too many objects or tasks requiring the attention at once. -- Coloq. White iron . See Cast iron (above). -- Coloq. Wrought iron (Metal.), the purest form of iron commonly known in the arts, containing only about half of one per cent of carbon. It is made either directly from the ore, as in the Catalan forge or bloomery, or by purifying (puddling) cast iron in a reverberatory furnace or refinery. It is tough, malleable, and ductile. When formed into bars, it is called bar iron.
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Iron (īŭrn), a. [AS. īren, īsen. See , n.]
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1. Of, or made of iron; consisting of iron; as, an iron bar, dust.
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2. Resembling iron in color; as, iron blackness.
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3. Like iron in hardness, strength, impenetrability, power of endurance, insensibility, etc.; as:

(a) Rude; hard; harsh; severe.
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Iron years of wars and dangers. Rowe.
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Jove crushed the nations with an iron rod. Pope.

(b) Firm; robust; enduring; as, an iron constitution.

(c) Inflexible; unrelenting; as, an iron will.

(d) Not to be broken; holding or binding fast; tenacious. “Him death's iron sleep oppressed.” Philips.
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☞ Iron is often used in composition, denoting made of iron, relating to iron, of or with iron; producing iron, etc.; resembling iron, literally or figuratively, in some of its properties or characteristics; as, iron-shod, iron-sheathed, iron-fisted, iron-framed, iron-handed, iron-hearted, iron foundry or iron-foundry.
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Coloq. Iron age . (a) (Myth.) The age following the golden, silver, and bronze ages, and characterized by a general degeneration of talent and virtue, and of literary excellence. In Roman literature the Iron Age is commonly regarded as beginning after the taking of Rome by the Goths, A. D. 410. (b) (Archæol.) That stage in the development of any people characterized by the use of iron implements in the place of the more cumbrous stone and bronze. -- Coloq. Iron cement , a cement for joints, composed of cast-iron borings or filings, sal ammoniac, etc. -- Coloq. Iron clay (Min.), a yellowish clay containing a large proportion of an ore of iron. -- Coloq. Iron cross , a German, and before that Prussian, order of military merit; also, the decoration of the order. -- Coloq. Iron crown , a golden crown set with jewels, belonging originally to the Lombard kings, and indicating the dominion of Italy. It was so called from containing a circle said to have been forged from one of the nails in the cross of Christ. -- Coloq. Iron flint (Min.), an opaque, flintlike, ferruginous variety of quartz. -- Coloq. Iron founder , a maker of iron castings. -- Coloq. Iron foundry , the place where iron castings are made. -- Coloq. Iron furnace , a furnace for reducing iron from the ore, or for melting iron for castings, etc.; a forge; a reverberatory; a bloomery. -- Coloq. Iron glance (Min.), hematite. -- Coloq. Iron hat , a headpiece of iron or steel, shaped like a hat with a broad brim, and used as armor during the Middle Ages. -- Coloq. Iron horse , a locomotive engine. [Colloq.] -- Coloq. Iron liquor , a solution of an iron salt, used as a mordant by dyers. -- Coloq. Iron man (Cotton Manuf.), a name for the self-acting spinning mule. -- Coloq. Iron mold or Coloq. Iron mould , a yellow spot on cloth stained by rusty iron. -- Coloq. Iron ore (Min.), any native compound of iron from which the metal may be profitably extracted. The principal ores are magnetite, hematite, siderite, limonite, Göthite, turgite, and the bog and clay iron ores. -- Coloq. Iron pyrites (Min.), common pyrites, or pyrite. See . -- Coloq. Iron sand , an iron ore in grains, usually the magnetic iron ore, formerly used to sand paper after writing. -- Coloq. Iron scale , the thin film which forms on the surface of wrought iron in the process of forging. It consists essentially of the magnetic oxide of iron, Fe3O4. -- Coloq. Iron works , a furnace where iron is smelted, or a forge, rolling mill, or foundry, where it is made into heavy work, such as shafting, rails, cannon, merchant bar, etc.
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Iron, v. t. [imp. & p. p. Ironed (?); p. pr. & vb. n. Ironing.]
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1. To smooth with an instrument of iron; especially, to smooth, as cloth, with a heated flatiron; -- sometimes used with out.
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2. To shackle with irons; to fetter or handcuff. “Ironed like a malefactor.” Sir W. Scott.
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3. To furnish or arm with iron; as, to iron a wagon.

Coloq. iron out differences resolve differences; settle a dispute.
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Ironbark, Ironbark tree (?). (Bot.) The Australian Eucalyptus Sideroxylon, used largely by carpenters and shipbuilders; -- called also ironwood. Also applied to other Australian eucalyptuses with a hard, solid bark
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Ironbound (?), a. 1. Bound as with iron; rugged; as, an ironbound coast.
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2. Rigid; unyielding; as, ironbound traditions.
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Iron-cased (?), a. Cased or covered with iron, as a vessel; ironclad.
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Ironclad (?), a. 1. Clad in iron; protected or covered with iron, as a vessel for naval warfare.
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2. Rigorous; unbreakable; severe; exacting; inflexible; as, an ironclad oath or pledge. [Colloq.]
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Ironclad, n. A naval vessel having the parts above water covered and protected by iron or steel usually in large plates closely joined and made sufficiently thick and strong to resist heavy shot. Modern naval vessels are made of steel throughout, and this term is only used in historical contexts.
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Ironclad, a. 1. having an outer covering of iron or steel; as, an ironclad war vessel.
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2. so strong or secure as to be unbreakable; as, an ironclad contract.
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irone, irones (?), n. A fragrant liquid substance, a mixture of several isomers of the formula C14H22O, forming the essence of the violet fragrance, commonly isolated from orris oil or from the rhizomes of Iris. The main ingredient in violets is α-irone, which occurs as both cis and trans stereoisomers. Called also 6-methylionone.
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Ironer (?), n. One who, or that which, irons.
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ironfisted, iron-fisted (?), a. 1. Closefisted; stingy; mean.
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2. Ruthless; tyrranical; allowing no opposition; as, an iron-fisted tyrant.
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Iron Gate, The Iron Gates (?), prop. n. A famous gorge, about 11/2 miles long, cut by the Danube in the Carpathian mountains near the intersection of Hungary, Serbia, and Rumania.
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Iron-gray (?), a. Of a gray color, somewhat resembling that of iron freshly broken. -- n. An iron-gray color; also, a horse of this color.
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iron hat (?), n. (Geol., Mineral.) Same as .
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Ironheads (?), n. (Bot.) A European composite herb (Centaurea nigra); -- so called from the resemblance of its knobbed head to an iron ball fixed on a long handle. Dr. Prior.
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Iron-hearted (?), a. Hard-hearted; unfeeling; cruel; as, an iron-hearted master. Cowper.
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iron horse (?), n. A ; -- an term no longer used. [Obsolete]
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Ironic (?), a. Ironical. Sir T. Herbert.
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Ironical (?), a. [LL. ironicus, Gr. � dissembling: cf. F. ironique. See .]
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1. Pertaining to irony; containing, expressing, or characterized by, irony; as, an ironical remark.
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2. Addicted to the use of irony; given to irony.

-- Ironically, adv. -- Ironicalness, n.
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Ironing (?), n. 1. The act or process of smoothing, as clothes, with hot flatirons.
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2. The clothes ironed.
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Coloq. Ironing board , a flat board, upon which clothes are laid while being ironed.
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Ironish, a. Resembling iron, as in taste. Wood.
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Ironist (?), n. One who uses irony.
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iron lung (?), n. A steel chamber, usually cylindrical, enclosing the entire body of a person except for the head, used to assist respiration for people suffering from disease, especially poliomyelitis. A reciprocating piston at the end causes alternating high and low pressure inside, which forces or assists the breathing of the patient within.
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iron maiden (?), n. An instrument of torture used in the middle ages, consisting of a box large enough to hold a person, often in the shape of a woman, and having multiple sharp spikes on the inside. Called also the iron maiden of Nuremberg.
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Ironmaster (?), n. A manufacturer of iron, or large dealer therein. Bp. Hurd.
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Ironmonger (?), n. A dealer in iron or hardware.
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Ironmongery (?), n. Hardware; a general name for all articles made of iron. Gwilt.
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iron-on (?), a. Able to be attached (to clothing) by applying pressure and heat, as with a hand iron; -- of cloth items specially made with a glue that is softened by heat; -- used especially of patches to clothing or accessories to clothing, such as replacement pockets.
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Iron oxide (?), n. (Chem.) Any of the oxides of iron, especially .
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Iron-sick (?), a. (Naut.) Having the ironwork loose or corroded; -- said of a ship when her bolts and nails are so eaten with rust that she has become leaky.
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iron sickness (?), n. (Naut.) The the process of deterioration afflicting a ship that is .
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ironside (?), n. a man of great strength and endurance, especially on who is brave.
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Ironside, Ironsides (?), prop. n. 1. A nickname for Oliver Cromwell.
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2. A nickname for Edmund II of England. RHUD
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Iron-sided (?), a. Having iron sides, or very firm sides.
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Ironsides (?), n. A cuirassier or cuirassiers; also, hardy veteran soldiers; -- applied specifically to Cromwell's cavalry.

Coloq. Old Ironsides . (U. S. Hist.) A nickname for the U.S.S. Constitution, a sailing ship which fought in the American Revolutionary war, and now functions as a floating museum in Boston harbor. It was given its nickname because cannonballs bounced off its hard wooden sides.
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Ironsmith (?), n. 1. A worker in iron; one who makes and repairs utensils of iron; a blacksmith.
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2. (Zoöl.) An East Indian barbet (Megalaima faber), inhabiting the Island of Hainan. The name alludes to its note, which resembles the sounds made by a smith.
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Ironstone (?), 1. n. A hard, earthy ore of iron.
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2. ironstone china.
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Coloq. Clay ironstone . See under . -- Coloq. Ironstone china , a hard white pottery, first made in England during the 18th century.
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Ironware (?), n. Articles made of iron, as household utensils, tools, and the like.
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Ironweed (?), n. (Bot.) A tall weed with purplish flowers (Vernonia Noveboracensis). The name is also applied to other plants of the same genus.
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Ironwood (?), n. (Bot.) A tree unusually hard, strong, or heavy wood.
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☞ In the United States, the hornbeam and the hop hornbeam are so called; also the Olneya Tesota, a small tree of Arizona; in the West Indies, the Erythroxylon areolatum, and several other unrelated trees; in China, the Metrosideros vera; in India, the Mesua ferrea, and two species of Inga; in Australia, the Eucalyptus Sideroxylon, and in many countries, species of Sideroxylon and Diospyros, and many other trees.
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Ironwork (?), n. Anything made of iron; -- a general name of such parts or pieces of a building, vessel, carriage, etc., as consist of iron.
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Iron works. See under , a.
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Ironwort (?), n. (Bot.) An herb of the Mint family (Sideritis), supposed to heal sword cuts; also, a species of Galeopsis.
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Irony (?), a. [From .]
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1. Made or consisting of iron; partaking of iron; iron; as, irony chains; irony particles; -- In this sense iron is the more common term. [R.] Woodward.
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2. Resembling iron in taste, hardness, or other physical property.
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Irony (?), n. [L. ironia, Gr. � dissimulation, fr. � a dissembler in speech, fr. � to speak; perh. akin to E. word: cf. F. ironie.]
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1. Dissimulation; ignorance feigned for the purpose of confounding or provoking an antagonist.
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2. A sort of humor, ridicule, or light sarcasm, which adopts a mode of speech the meaning of which is contrary to the literal sense of the words.
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Iroquois (?), n. sing. & pl. [F.] (Ethnol.) A powerful and warlike confederacy of Indian tribes, formerly inhabiting Central New York and constituting most of the Five Nations. Also, any Indian of the Iroquois tribes.
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Iroquoian (ĭr�kwoi�n), a. Of, pertaining to, or designating, one of the principal linguistic stocks of the North American Indians. The territory of the northern Iroquoian tribes, of whom the Five Nations, or Iroquois proper, were the chief, extended from the shores of the St. Lawrence and of Lakes Huron, Ontario, and Erie south, through eastern Pennsylvania, to Maryland; that of the southern tribes, of whom the Cherokees were chief, formed part of Virginia, the Carolinas, Georgia, Tennessee, and Kentucky. All of the tribes were agricultural, and they were noted for large, communal houses, palisaded towns, and ability to organize, as well as for skill in war. -- n. An Indian of an Iroquoian tribe.
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Irous (?), a. [OF. iros, from ire. See .] Irascible; passionate. [Obs.] Chaucer.

{ Irp, Irpe } (ẽrp), n. [Etymol. uncertain.] A fantastic grimace or contortion of the body. [Obs.]
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Smirks and irps and all affected humors. B. Jonson.
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